Heating device for open fireplaces



` l. S. NICHOLS. HEKT-F evlcz Foa OPEN FmEPLAcEs.

Patentd Mar. 1, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@Moe Mtoz s. mcHoiLs. HEATING DEVICE FOR OPEN FIREPLACES "mamon mtuJuni 1. me.'

@wwwa um'rlslo STATES l PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES S. NICHOLS, 0F ATLANTA, GEORGIA., ASSIGNOR'TO NIC-HEATERCORPORATION, 0F ATLANTA., GEORGIA, A. CORPORATION 0F GEORGIA.

HEATING DEVICE FOR OIEN FIB'EELACES.

Specieat'on of Letters'patent.

Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

Application led June 7, 1919. SerialY No. 302,456.

To all whom itmag/fooacem:

Be it known that I, JAMES S. NICHOLS, a citizen of the United States,`residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, haveinvented new and` useful Improvements in Heating Devices for OpenFireplaces, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to heating devices for rooms, apartments and thelike and particularly to an o en grate heater, Vand the primary object othe invention isto provide a heating device of the class specied adaptedto bereadily arranged in a re place and in operation having a relativelyhigh heating eiiiciency.

A further object of the invention is toV provide a novel structureembodying means for utilizing the heat of the products of combustionwhich are caused to. circulate or to pass therethrough to a smoke outletor chimney from a grate, and to so expose the heat conducting componentsof the improved heating device as to practically heat a room orapartment with material economy in the use Vof fuel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a heating means ofthe class speciied arranged for the circulation of products ofcombustion and gases from a grate therethrough and to prevent burningpaper and other material that may be carried upV toward the chimney orsmoke outlet from passing into the latter and thereby preventingignition of soot or other deposits within the chimney. With theseandlother objectsY and advantages, the invention consists in certainimprovements embodying the construction and arrangement ofV parts whichwill be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings V Figure l is a frontV elevation oi. a. fire placeshowing the improved open grate heater mounted therein. y

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken through a portion of afire place and chimney and the improved open rate heater.

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are etail viewsV of different parts of the improvedheater.

Fig. 7 is a section on the' line 7-7, Fig.

8, showing a modification of a part ofthe heater. Y

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section through the structure shown inFig. 7.

Figi) is a horizontal section of a portion ofV the modified structureshown in Figs. 7 and 8 taken in the plane of the line 9 9, Fig. 8, andparticularly illustrating a heat damper or cut-off.

The open grate heater embodying the featuresfof the invention obviatecertain disadvantages found to exist in using the common form kof opengrate heaters and fire places, by avoiding principally the escape ofsmoke and gases intoV the room or apart-V ment where itis installed. Theimproved heater also rovides means for eiciently controlling thecombustion of the fuel and the utilization of the products of combustionby radiation of the heat thereof as a heating means instead of allowingsuch products to immediately pass off into the. chimney or smoke outlet.The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, llont it will be Y understoodfthat it is not restricted to theprecise construction shown, as equivalent parts are contemplated andwill loe included within the scope of the claims.

The improved Vopen grateheater comprises a frame 5 which is arrangedaround the fire place as particularly shown by Fig. 1 and is providedwith a cross har 6 a short dis` tance below the top for a purposeV whichwill he hereinaftervexplained, and also with a basket grate 7 heldwithin the fire place 8, and connertedto the lower portion of theframeat a suitable distance abovethe base of the fireplace inY anypreferred manner.

The grate 7 is particularly constructed to Y reduce the charge of fuelnecessary to fillYV theV same relatively to that required to lilltheordinary form of basket grate and to provide for lateral draftthrough the fuel charge in o posite directions, as Well as vertically.an amore complete consumption of the fuel and aeonsequent economy inthe use thereofV with` a comparatively greater heating eiuciencyrelatively to a given amount of fuel. To adapt the improved grate to theadvantageous services specilied, it is formed with a centralsubstantially triangular recess 9 opening through the front, bottom andrear parts thereof, said recess being formed by providing upwardlyconverging side grate bar sections 10 intersectingn the usual frontvertical and bottom horizontal sections 11 and 12 of the grate. It willbe seen that this recess 9 and the converging disposition of the gratebars as explained exposes the charge of fuel at the center for draftpurposes or entrance of the air thereinto. Y Y

The heat radiating organizationof the improved structure comprises amain inclosure 13 which in the main is of box-like form and providedwith a rear step or vertical extension 14 of less width than the maininclosure; the said main inclosure 13 being secured to the frame 5VoverV the cross bar 6, the upper or top portion of the vertical eX-tension 14 terminatingv coincidentally with Ythe top of the opening ofVthe lire place which communicates as usual with an upper smoke flueorchimney 15 having a rear ledge 16 on which is secured the rear end ofa baille plate 17. This baille plateextcnds upwardly and outwardlyacross the'opening 18 between the extension 14 and the lower maininclosure 13 and rests on the bar 6 and has therein an opening 19 topermit the circulation ot the products of combustion vfrom the lireplace into the improved heating'device. It will beA observed that thebaiie plate 17 closes the rc place at the point where it extendsthereover and prevents the products of combustion from passing fromthegrate upwardly into the chimney or smoke Yflue 17 The main inclosure 13at theY top and in advance of the extension 14 is formed with a to Jslot 21 having a surrounding 'opstanding flange 22, and in the form ofthe 1m roved heating device as particularly shown lby Figs. 1 to 6inclusive, a radiating elbow 23 comprising a rear comparatively shortmember 24 and an outer longer member 25 is applied on the inclosure andextension. The outer longer member 25 of this radiating elbow 23 is openat the bottom and of such dimensions as to lit over and frictionallyengage the flange 22 ina manner similar to the application oa stove pipeto a heating or cooking stove' and the lower end of the shorter member24 is in like manner open and is provided with a wire gauze screen 26extending full length and width thereof,V the lower open end of theshorter member 24 being fitted over an elongated slot or opening' 27 inthe top of the extension 14 and whereby ,circulatingr communication forthe products of combustion is established lbe'ttfeen Vthelower maininclosure 13 and the topfof the extension of Vtherlatter. TheA wiregauze partition or covering26 prevents the passageI of burning paper orsimilar material into the chimney or smoke flue 17 and thereby preventsignition of the deposits in the said chimney or smoke liuc, and alsoemission of burning products of combustion from the top oi' the chimney.The radiating elbow 23 andthe main inclosure 13stand out into theapartment a. suitable distance beyond the front of the fire place Yabovethe grate as shown particularly in Fig. 2 and the said elbow ispreferably formed of sheet metal and continuous with such jointures ofthe parts thereof as may be necessary'to produce the same in the formshown and described. The short mem.-Y

ber 24 of this elbow also has a damper 24 thereinrto regulatecommunication of the el bow with the extension. Y Y

As a slight modification of ythe elbow 23 of continuous form, openings:or slots 2 1V and 27 respectively of the main inclosure 13 andextension l14 thereof may be replaced by a plurality oi circularopenings 2S as a series of separate Yelbovvrppes 29 are proV vided andconnectedv to the openings 28.Y

and at a Vsuitalple distance below vthe openings 28 in the top of theextension 14, a suitable slide damper 30 is mounted and controlscommunication of the separate pipes 29 with the saidV main inclosure ina'malnner similar to the damper 24F, heretofore described. n themodified structure the bafie late is used as in the first forni descried and is in all respects similar in construction thereto.Y t will beunderstood that all of the dempers are operable from the exterior of thedrum and elbows.

In the operation of the improved heating device or attachment, thedamper or slide between either the continuous sheet metal radiatingelbow 23 or the modified structure oi the latter consisting of theseries oi pipes 29 which also provides radiatingr elbow means isvopenedV and the products of combustion including the heated gasesV riscfrom the `grate 7 and pass into the rear open side of the main inclosure1.3 and then upwardly through the opening or slot 21 or through theplurality of openings 28 in the modified structure, as the case may be,into either the elbow 23 or the Vseries of pipes 29 andthen into the topor upper side Yot' the extension 14 and thenceto and Yout-` VVwardlythrough the chimney or smokeiflue 17. The said main inclosure and theelbow means are heated by the circulation of theV products of combustiontherethrough and the heat therefrom is radiated intothe apartment withmaterial advantages asV a heating meansandwhereby the heat unitsof the:

fuel inthe grate may be more fully and practically utilized.

ies

VY.At iany time the dampers between the lower `.or main inclonemers sare13 and the extension 14 may be regulated to control the circulation orpassage of the products of combustion through the continuous elbow 23 orthe elbow means comprising the series of pipes 29, and as heretoforeexplained, the wire gauze in the lower open end of the short member 24of the elbow Q3 will check or stopthe passage of burning paper or otherportions of the products of combustion into the chimney or smoke ilue 17and will thereby prevent them from passing out ot the chimney in ailaming condition and avoiding tires by protecting roofs againstengagement by such flaming products of combustion. The improved heatingdevice as a whole may be readily applied in operative position. Thebaiiie plate 17 in addition to serving as a partition means to excludethe direct passage of the products of combustion into the escape chimneyor smoke flue will serve at times as a deliector to throw the heated airback or downwardly and out through the open portion of the fire placeabove the grate. All the parts of the improved device may be readilyinstalled in operative position at a comparatively small expense,particularly when considered in a comparative sense relatively to themore complete utilization of the heat units of a given amount or chargeof fuel deposited in the grate. The upper radiating elbow or elbow meansis -materially advantageous in heating the air adjacent thereto as theair may readily circulate between the front and rear portions thereofand become thoroughly heated.

It will be understood that the proportions, dimensions and minor detailsof the several parts of the heatingr attachment may be modified to adaptthe same for application to ire places of different dimensions and formwithout in the least modifying the function of the components of theheating device or departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a heating device of the class specified, thecombination with an open iire place having a chimney or escape passageand grate, of a battle plate secured therein above the grate andextending outwardly beyond the front thereof to shut oli directcommunication with the chimney, a main heating inclosure projectedoutwardly from the upper part of the fire place and open at the rear andhaving an inner vertical extension closed to the lower main body ot themain inclosure by the baii'le plate which extends thereinto, elbow heatradiating means connected to the outer top portion of the drum and thetop of the extension, and damper means between the outer portion of thedrum and the elbow heat radiating means. 2. A. heating device forapplication to an openfireplace aboveaa grate, consistingor` tensionbeing'separated from the main inclosure, elbow heat radiating means forcirculation of they productsl of combustion therethrough connected tothe outer top portion of the main beating inclosure and extending overand connected to the top of the said extension, and means forcontrolling communication between the main inclosure and the extension.

3. A heating device for application to an open fire place above a grate,consisting of a main inclosure with an inner vertical extension, theinclosure and extension being open at the rear, elbow heat radiatingmeans for circulation of the products of combustion therethroughconnected to the outer top portion of the inclosure and to the top ofthe extension, a bafie plate extending into and separating the extensionfrom the inclosure, and damper means between the elbow heat radiatingmeans and the outer portion or the inclosure.

4. A heating device for application to an open lire place above a grate,consisting of a main inclosure with an extension at the inner partthereof extending above the top ofthe inclosure and providing an angularstep construction, the inclosure and eXtension being fully open at therear side and the opening being also primarily continuous with respectto the two parts, the extension being separated from the inclosure,elbow heat radiating means applied at one terminal to the top of theinclosure and extending upwardly and directed over Vand connected to thetop of the extension for circulation of the products of combustiontherethrough from the inclosure to the top of the extension, the part ofthe elbow heat a main: heating inclosure with aninner ver-1Y ticalextensionY ofV less width than the ria-ainV inclosure, the maininclosure and its enten--V sion being fully open at the rear, the ex-'fradiating means connected to the top of the extension having a wiregauze screen between the same and the extension, and means forcontrolling communication between the inclosure and the elbow means.

5. A heating device for application to an open iireplace above a grate,consisting of a main inclosure disposed horizontally and of 'substantialrectangular shape and extending horizontally across the upper portion ofthe fireplace, the said inclosure being provided with an inner verticalextension and the inclosure and extension being primarily fully open atthe rear, and elbow heat radiating means for circulation of the productsof combustion therethrough connected to the outer top portion of themain inclosure and to the top of the extension, a space betension andthe adjacent part of the elbow heat radiating means and also throughsaid. In testimony whereof I have hreunto set latter means, the part ofthe ebow heat radimy hand in presence of two subscribing 10 ating mansconnected 1to thl top of tlzlhe exwitnesses. v Y Y tension avingaoontroi am er t erein, 1 5 and a. balli@V plate extenciilli` olitwgrdly fromJAMES S NILHOLS the fireplace into the mam inclosure and Witnesses:cutting of? communication between Vthe said H. EVAN SCOGING, mainmclosure and the extension. N. F. RIUHARDSON.

